Self unloading apparatus



SELF UNLOADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l0, 1.952

Feb. 12, 3957 F. G. LEsNlAK HAL 227km? SELF UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed March l0. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fen/vk GI ESN/HK M471. TE@ A?. Sn/55E ATTORNEY F65 12, 1957 F. G. LEsNnAK ETAL 2,781,155?

SELF UNLOADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March l0, 1952 h, .MQ

Y [MALTA-@A570555 BY Q mt/ ATTORNEY Feb. i2, 1957 Filed March l0, 1952 F. G. LESNIAK ETAL SELF UNLOADING lAPPARATUS 4. Sheets-Sheet 4 'l 'IL "3 D V s l i 0 L Q0 e 9 lNvENToR ATTORNEY Yunloading rack Yfor handling a plurality of sheets;

I Y 2,281,131 SELF UNLOADING'APPARATUS Frank GrLesniak and waiter A. Stubbe, Laurel, Miss.,

assgnors to Masonite Corporation, Laurel, Miss., a corporation of Delaware Application March 10, 1952, serial No. 275,796

` Y 4 claims. (ci. 21tr-16.6)

This invention' relates to a movable self-loading and particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for the simultaneous loadingof multiple-platen hydraulic presses Ywith sheets to be pressed.

The improved apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable for handling a plurality of self-supporting sheets which are to be chargedV into a multiple-platen press wherein they are subjected to elevated temperature and pressure and Vthusconsolidated into rigid sheets. The apparatus is well adapted, for example, for use in the manufacture of hardboards of lignocellulose liber made according to U. S. Patent No. 2,120,137 to W. H. Mason, such boards being made from self-supporting blanks and having smooth surfaces at each face after pressing by reason of being pressed directly against the press platens or against surface plates applied vto the vrplatens.

In the past, `such self-supporting sheets for vblanks have been charged into the press openings by pushing them individually and manually fromV behind. YDifficulties are encountered with this type of press loading inasmuch as the press platens are heated quite high, as for exampleV over 200 C. Since the manual" press load- More Y ling the sheet material out of the rack compartments and ing is ordinarily commenced at the bottom press opening time which is incompatible with securing lthe greatest uniformity of product. More recently, mechanical press loading apparati have been developed for the simultaneous charging of a plurality of blanks into a multiple-platen press. One of the most desirable of these mechanical devicesis described and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 2,438,896. The mechanical press-loading and unloading apparatus o f this patent is equipped with sheet pushing and gripping members which are adapted to load the blanks into the press openings and, subsequent to the pressing operation, to grip the consolidated boards and withdraw them simultaneously from the press. 'I'he self-loading and unloading rack of the present invention represents a substantial improvement over the above described apparatus. A

It is an object of the present invention vto speed up the production of fiber board products made from self-supporting blanks by providing a self-loading and unloading rack.V It is a further object of the present invention to prevent or reduce the necessity for manual alignment of ICC hydraulic press in which the sheets are to be pressed. Thus,`upon the rack being stationed infront of an opened, multiple-platen press, the Vraclr compartments are in substantially horizontal alignment With the openings between the press platens. The rack Yis provided with a plurality of sheet-supportingrolls which are adapted to be simultaneously rotated and by means thereof to deliver into the rack a plurality of self-supporting blanks. supporting rolls are oppositely disposed, extending from the sides of the rack toward the center, i. e. substantially` at right angles to the longitudinal axis `of the machine,

but terminating short thereof to provide an open central space extending the height and length of the rack. The

rackkis also equipped with pushing members which may engage the end of a sheet thus providing means for pushinto the press openings. The sheet-supporting rolls are synchronously actuated yduring the rack-unloading procedurel thus assisting in the removal of the sheets therefrom and into the multiple-platen press.

The structure and purpose of the improved apparatus of the present invention may be more easily understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a rack;`

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal sectional view through section B-B of Fig. l, of a rack, showing a blank in the course of delivery to a press;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section substantially through section A-A of Fig. 1;

Fig.r5` is an end Fig.` 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, partially in section, of 4;

Fig. .7 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing a sheet pusher member;

Fig.: 8 is a fragmentary end elevation through section D-Dr of Fig. 7;' and 1 Fig. 9,is a side elevation of Fig. 7.

The rack in its preferred form isv designated` by the reference character 10. Said rack 10 is divided into a Y plurality of pairs of oppositely positioned compartments the sheets within the press platen openings. VAnother i 12 by means of the cantilever roll supporting members 16. Sheet supporting rolls 14 vextend from the sides of the rack 10 into the compartments 12 and are supported y' therein by the members 16. The paired compartments 12 terminate short of the center of the rack, i. e. short of the longitudinal axis thereof, and provide,` contiguous thereto, the central opening 13 which extends the height and length of the rack. 'Ihe paired compartments 12 are disposed in substantially vertical alignment and the filling i of the rack isV effected by the introduction of a single sheet into each pair of said compartments.

Within each pair of compartments 12 or extendingV therefrom is aY sheet pusher member 18 having a substantially U-shaped edge 20 which is adapted to receive the leading edge of `the sheet during the rack loading procedure Vand to contain said sheet edge during therackunloading procedure. `Said pusher members 18 are arranged sothat theyV can Work within compartments 12 or prject therefrom, and for this purpose they are mounted ori longitudinally extending bars 22,22. These lever Vbars 22, 22 are pivoted at 24 and provided with wheels 26, 26 which run on and are guided bythe longitudinally extending angle bars 28, 28 which in turn Vare attached to the ends of roll supporting members 16. The sheet receiving edge 20 is slotted in its lower surface to provide clearance for the pusher member 18 over sheet lifting elements 30 which are mounted on the laterally extending horizontal angle bars 32.

The sheet- Y elevation through section C-C of Tile bars 22, 22 are aissrenieded t9 an upright pusher bar 34, 34 for simultaneous movement to andvfroY in the rack by means of the connection of pusher bar 34, 34 with aimait! Carriage Sdldwhislif has guidev wheels 3,8 Wiiihiiiri Qn lower and urines-tias@ 4d, @din the reeks Sdidmsiri Carriage. 35 36 is @dilated by meansoftlie inunisonby'the sprocket driving chains. 44, 44 and 4T from. a source of power. indicated at 4.6.., Cgntrol; Y

arrangements @di Shown) are provided Sd thatY die Operator can Calis-1h'mainsanidad. 3d fd bereaved and stopped. when desired;

P'fdvidsd 'for guiding die sheets iiitd. die receiving edges? Wand Subsidnifiilv aliasing the side @dass of die sheets'.

vdriillytiiifihe idols These avides iS-are Seemed, tdih@ bafdd iidiicliisY siiddbiv attached i9 the rack frame at 52? "ihdguides 4S- ftiay bei madiiaiiy adjusted forthe alignment df Shesisfdf various. Widths f Each ,of Vthe cantilever .supported Yrolls; 14. terminates-f at its centrally disposed end, in a spindle 54 which inserted. into the bearing 5,6. The bearing. 56 is pressV fit to the Vhousing 58 which. contains laterally extending,

pin members. i645, 60. These pin members 60, 60. engage the horizontal slots 62,. 62 of the U.-shaped bearing housing support 6A and. thus preventthe rotation of.` the beara.

ing `assembly during operationen the rolls YThebearf ing elements are assembled as aunit for. convenient removal from thev rack. by means of bolt. 675 which carries the washer 66. This washer. pressresa'gainst the bearing. 58 and, when the roll 14 is pulled towardtherack frame,"

causes the entire bearing., Iand housing. Yto be. removed therewith. Y Y' 'lfhe outer. terminal. spindle ofrgeacsh roll'14fis'fmount-'- ed in bearing assembly 70Y which is supported 'by'.the.

member 72 attached to. the frame of rack 10` by the. angle support'74. v The'roll 14 (and its'terminall bearing as-fY ,semblies may be adjusted by means of. the nut 76. YEach Vroll 14g also carries, on itsouter. spindleV 68, a sprocketY 78`which is driven ,by means of sprocket. driving.chains. 80 whichy aredriven in unison by thefendless Vchain 82 from a source of power indicated at 84. -'l`hus,;z;1llro frV Vthe rolls 14 rotate'in unison. i Y Y Y In charging the rack Ywith blank sheets, it is preferably positioned in front of a stationary rack which hasipreviouslyl beenV loaded with. the'blanks;

then moved in the opposite direction and the pusher rneinberrs 18" are thereby Withdrawnrfrom the press platen openings so thatrthe press may be closed. The rack is then preferably moved back to its original position where it is in condition to receive a new charge of blank sheets from the stationary .loading rack. A second identical movable rack may then beV stationed in front of the press for. unloading the nished boards therefrom'.

. As many apparently. Vwidely diferent embodiments of,V

this-invention may bie' made without departing *from the spirit andscope thereof, it is toV be'understoodthatythe invention is not to .be limited to the Vspecrfiiic embodiments thereofaexceip't as. defined in the appended claims.,

Weclaim:v Y Y L 'Y y 1. A self-loading'and unloading Aalgparatusr for handling a plurality of sheets comprising arrackrcontainingfaseries of pairsV of horizontally extending oppositely opposedv imndr.niente.Providing a: Central Openings-.extending the heightY and' length; 015th@ rack, paired sheet Supporting Y rdlliiaem rvwithin earch compartmenneach pair Ofcom, pertinents? associated 'Vith Vasbest pusher member equipped with a substantilallyV Ufshaped element extending Y transversely thret. 'ghacross the width ofthe rack and; dapted-.to receive a. sheet4 edge, iXed sheet-,raising memberS-Pdsitidiiedimmediately adjacent to the retracted pQitioi1fdiSaid-sheet pushermerbersand adapted to, raise the lead/ing: edges .of theY sheets intol the U-shapedV .pusher elements durinstlw ladiusof Said apparatus;

said` sheetfpusher. members being'mounted on roller Ssser-ts.' mdvatls within the limits ofY the rackV and-C011- iieeiedtd ad upright-Pusher bafattahedtd d .movable main .carriage positioned Within theV racl andmovable aleing the centralgaxis thereoithrough said central openying, said 'pusher bar.. ser-ving` to., simultaneously actuate Y The rolls 14'7are l Yset. in synchronous motion by means of the Vsprocket driving,chainsrwhichare in turn drivenby the endless A,

chainsiSZI The blanks. are simultaneously ejected from Y the, stationary rack into the paired compartments.- 12 of the rack t'where, after havingV passed over. two or three of* the rolls I4, there is sufficient friction generated for the rotating rolls 1 4' to induce movement'. of 'the sheets'.

into the rack. ,Y A's the blanksrpass into, theA paired compartments 12V on the rotating -rolls Vligthe leadingedges thereofare. slightlyrraisedfby the slieetlifting elementsA 30` andthe edges are thereby deposited in the .ll-shaped' edge. 29. The'sheets areV in-'substantial alignment inasmueh as during. their passage into the rack they pass bet'weenthe sheet guides 48 Vprior to entering the'receptacles '20." Y, Y if Y The rack containingthe load'of ,sheets'is thenmovedVT A along the guide :rail 86 until'it Vis Vunloading.position Y .in f ro'ntof; thepress; To load Vthepress, theV platens ofvv'hichV are in open position", Vmaingca'rriage 36fis ,now

traveled towardthe press endoftheisrael,y andthrongh thehshet pushergmembersyandsaid rack beingernounted Y 0dmeaasfr mevsmiiialiisiagiiide rai1 ;selrflloadingand unloading apparatus for. handlingka .pin lirty.. ofsheets. comprising a. rack. containing .a

seriesmf pairs..oflhorizontally` extending oppositely Yupvposed compartments. providing a centralV openingextend- Y ingldie iisiiiadd'ifngih di die rack., dieet giiidiiig-members. breachv pairV of` compartments, paired sheet, support.

ing. rollrnembers in .each pair of compartments, each Ypaiijwof-Y compartments associated with a sheet' pusher Y' member equipped. with, a l substantially U-shaped; element extendingtherethrough acrosstheswidth of-the racl' audi adapted` to receiveia .sheet edge, .fixed sheet-raising. mem-AV bersfpsltioned immediately adjacent .tothefretractd Y position` f said sheet pusher members and; adaptedfto", raisefthev leadingedges of the sheetsl into the Ufshaped d,

pusher lements duringth'e-loadingofnhe apparatus, said Y sheetpusher niemhersffbe'ing'.mountedon rollensupports.

' movable wit in thefliinits of'th'e ra'ckrand connected to thisjfaction'the sheets* are-pushed by the pusher`mernbersfA Y 18 out of therack compartments 12 and into thefaligned Y i Vpress platenopenings. In the"'rackfunloadingprocedre;

the rolls lfd' are rotated'inthedirection of the sheet travel and thusrassistin unloading the rack. During this .opera- Y tion, the; rolls' vslrare rotated at a speedl slightly less'`V than thatV4 ofthe' main carriage 3 6 to'preventthe shfeet: 5

edges' from lzvecorningv f lisengaged from Jthe U lshaped" edgei 20 of sheet pusher members 18.. V'Ifhecarriage:l 36-ffi's ring;

anfu'pright pusher harfattachedlto'alinaincarriage posi: YtionedY'v/ithin thevrac'zlmfa'ndv movable along'V the centrali., axis thereoffthrough saidv central opening, said pusher'V bar. senvingto simultaneously actuate Vtliesheet lpusher l members,` and'said rack being Vmounted'ontnea'nsfor .movement alonga guide rail.

3.1lnfa, movable self-loadingrand vunloading apparatus Y tic, lily exte shaft encompassed' bve' an integral"Y bearf therewith from the. bearing.: support member.

b ringhousing uniigaid hvusir'rg'unitl having 1 v an" of orizontallyfextending membersY adap ted"'to` Y y coact' with `said horizontal slots oi"V the'V bearing supp rt member; andsaidbearingnand'bearing housing- 4. In a movable self-loading and unloading apparatus for handling a plurality of sheets comprising a rack including a series of horizontally extending supporting means for supporting a plurality of sheets at successive heights in substantial alignment with each other, each supporting means consisting of a plurality of oppositely disposed pairs of synchronously actuated rolls extending from the sides of the rack toward the center but terminating short thereof, the combination of roll-supporting members extending from the rack sides parallel to the rolls, and each roll-supporting member having axed to its centrally disposed end a vertically extending horizontally slotted substantially U-shaped bearing support member, each roll terminating in a shaft encompassed by an integral bearing and bearing housing unit, said housing having a pair of horizontally extending members Iadapted to slidably coact with said horizontal slots oi the bearing support member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 915,425 Gerstkemper Mar. 16, 1909 1,376,989 Woods May 3, 1921 1,809,456 Streeter June 9, 1931 2,438,896 Bowen et al. Apr. 6, 1948 2,593,012 Croston Apr. 15, 1952 2,663,434 Pierce Dec. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 433,778 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1935 

